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Some Upcoming Dates of Note
- September 1st- Hard deadline for legally required Eliminating DEI attestation
- September 15th- OCS Virtual Office Hour; EVAAS
- September 15th- PBOR submissions due
- September 17th- OCS Virtual Office Hour; Advanced Learning and Gifted Education
- September 29th- NCED Symposium
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NCOCS is providing this summary of legislative changes as a guidance document. Please see the "Key Action Items" section for required items you may have missed. Specific reporting requirements or exemplars (for example, the DEI reporting) will also be pushed out via our newsletters as they become available. If you have questions or discover an error, please let us know!
Senate Bill 227 Annual Certification Due September 1, 2026
Senate Bill 227 Annual Certification of CompliancePursuant to Senate Bill 227 (Session Law 2026-20), Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education, each Public School Unit (PSU) is required to annually certify compliance with the requirements of the law.
Action: Please complete the SB 227 Annual Certification Form by 5:00 PM on September 1, 2026.
The certification requires the Superintendent or Executive Director to attest that the PSU has conducted a good-faith review of applicable policies, practices, programs, organizational structures, personnel assignments, instructional materials, and professional development activities and has taken any necessary actions to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 227. Supporting documentation should be maintained locally and made available upon request. Consider working with your legal team for assistance.
Linked is the list of questions included in the reporting form.
All public schools, including charters, must submit the certification form by Tuesday, September 1st. If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact ocs@dpi.nc.gov.
Important Reminders: Amendments & Relocations/Subcampuses
Your original charter application is binding. Any material change to the charter application must be approved in accordance with state law and applicable policy before implementation. Many amendments require approval from the Charter Schools Review Board (CSRB). If you are unsure as to whether a change requires an amendment, please contact the Office of Charter Schools (OCS). Further, OCS must be notified of all relocations (including temporary) or subcampus expansions, and an ECO must be provided before student occupancy.
Protect Our Students
As the new school year begins, this is a reminder that General Statute 143B‑1209.100 requires all North Carolina public school units to show the Protect Our Students videos to students in grades 6-12 within the first five days of school. While the staff training video is optional, it is strongly recommended to help reinforce school safety awareness and reporting practices.
The Protect Our Students videos are available on the Center for Safer Schools’ YouTube channel. If you have questions regarding the Protect Our Students videos or implementation requirements, please contact SchoolSafety@cfssnc.gov.
September Office Hours
The Office of Charter Schools at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has two offerings for PD sessions in the month of September, so take advantage of as much learning as you can to start the new year. We look forward to welcoming you to the first of several support sessions planned throughout the year.
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September 15th Virtual Office Hour:
Paul Marshall, the state’s EVAAS consultant, will provide annual updates and guidance for schools responsible for claiming core teachers in EVAAS. This session will equip schools with the information needed to meet September deadlines and explain how to contact Paul for additional support.
September 17th Virtual Office Hour:
Join the Office of Charter Schools and the Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education for a collaborative office hour highlighting available resources, services, and support. Schools interested in developing a state-approved AIG plan can learn more about the process, explore College Connect, and discover additional OALGE offerings.
Updated School Attendance and Student Accounting (SASA) Manual
This is a MUST HAVE resource for all charter school administrators.
Current SASA Manual
Register for 2026 NCED Connect Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2026 NCED Connect Symposium, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.
Educators, technology leaders, school library media coordinators, student information systems professionals and education partners from across North Carolina will explore digital learning, artificial intelligence, instructional technology, leadership and more. Attendees will discover new ideas, connect with colleagues and expand their professional networks.
Whether the focus is digital learning, AI, instructional technology, school library media, student information systems (NCSIS) for school and central office leadership, Cybersecurity, NCEES, Schoolnet/Instructional Improvement System, or other educational initiatives, there's something at this symposium for everyone in the field for school and district based leadership. It's a great opportunity to connect with educators and leaders from across North Carolina, pick up ideas and strategies to bring back to your schools and districts, and grow professional networks. We will also have our first AI Student Showcase where you can learn straight from students across the state along with implementation from our PSUs.
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Parents’ Bill of Rights Reporting: Parents’ Guide to Student Achievement and Data
Due September 15, 2026
Based on legislation and SBE PRNT-002, it’s time for you to update your Parents’ Guide to Student Achievement and submit data regarding the Parents’ Bill of Rights appeals. Please complete the reporting form by September 15, 2026; but we hope you will submit by June 30 so you can have it all wrapped up before the next school year. Please make sure your links are clear and accessible for the PGSA. Remember that what you submit is what will be exactly shared with the NCGA.
Linked is the report that SBE submitted last year to the NCGA.
Linked is the list of questions that are in the reporting form, essentially the same as last year.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Jennifer Lloyd at jennifer.lloyd@dpi.nc.gov.
Charter School TOY/POY
We’re excited to begin preparations for the 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year and the 2027 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year selection processes!
To help ensure a smooth and connected nomination cycle, we ask that each charter school update their district point of contact information for both programs using the Google Form linked below.
2026 Update - NC TOY/POY Coordinators
As the TOY and/or POY Coordinator for your charter school, you are responsible for following your local selection guidelines. Please note the following eligibility requirements:
Principal of the Year (POY) nominees must:
- Have at least four years of experience as an administrator
- Hold a valid principal's license
- Be a practicing school administrator for the full duration of the recognition year
Teacher of the Year (TOY) nominees must:
- Hold a Standard Professional II (Continuing) License
- Be employed full-time
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Spend at least 70% of their time providing direct instruction to NC public school students
Note: Teachers with Initial, Residency, International Faculty, Permit to Teach, Emergency, or Limited Licenses are not eligible to advance.
After local selection, I will communicate directly with your school’s Teacher and Principal of the Year to support them and collect their portfolios. Submission deadlines are:
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TOY Portfolios: Due September 16, 2026
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POY Portfolios: Due October 21, 2026
If you have any questions or need support at any point in the process, please feel free to reach out to the program coordinator directly:
Elizabeth Santamour
elizabeth.santamour@dpi.nc.gov
Thank you for your continued partnership in celebrating and elevating excellence in education!
Nominations Open- NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year
Dear Superintendents and BT Coordinators,
Nominations for the NCCAT 2027 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year are now open. Please submit your district or charter school’s nominee to this link by Friday, October 2nd. Details regarding eligibility and awards can be found at the BTOY webpage- www.nccat.org/btoy. Should you have any questions, please contact emily.langdon@nccat.org
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August 20, 2026
The FBS website continues to be updated with information related to School Business and our ongoing operations. Please check the FBS homepage regularly for updates. Please review the upcoming deadlines for due dates.
Federal Grants Ending on or Before Sept 30, 2026
Immediate Reversion Report - All PSUs
This entry serves as a 45-day notice that there are several federal grants whose period of performance ends September 30, 2026. The list of ending grant year funds was also posted on August 19th to our What's New page.
The funds at risk of being reverted can be identified using the DART 300. PSU Immediate Reversions report or the 4. Funds Available to Request Report in the Cash App, filtered by grant year. The DART 300 report is based on current MFR data. Please review and check expenditures, valid encumbrances, and invalid encumbrances. The report will be updated based on September MFR data during the September zero out and used to calculate allotment reversions.
Be aware that the cash zero-out may impact your remaining balances. Please review your federal allotments in the coming weeks to ensure you have expended the funds before the expiring grants end. This includes ensuring you have recorded all expenditures, and if needed eligible encumbrances, to the appropriate grant year in your system. All encumbrances must be reflected in your September MFR file. Please ensure that your encumbrances are recorded to the proper object codes, otherwise funds will revert. Encumbrances for these grants must be liquidated by December 31st.
Reminder: Grant year reporting means that expenditures and cash draws are all accounted by grant year for the federal grant funds. These must align. Please work with your software vendors if you are still unclear how to appropriately account for these funds using the new grant year code segment in the Chart of Accounts (COA).
21st Century Community Learning Centers - Non-LEAs/ERaCA Users
If you use ERaCA to access funds for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, please note that you must expend all expiring funds (grant years 2022-2025) on or before September 30, 2026. ERaCA will be open through October 31, 2026, for you to request reimbursement for these expenditures, but all expenditures must be dated on or before September 30, 2026.
If you have questions regarding these funds, please contact SchoolFinancialReporting@dpi.nc.gov.
Employee Bonuses FAQ - All PSUs
SBS has updated the Employee Bonus FAQ posted on our What's New page with additional questions we have received from the field. Please review those revisions and reach out to Salary@dpi.nc.gov if you have any further questions. We will continue to update our guidance as we receive them.
Independent Public Schools Q&A - IPS Only
The monthly Q&A for charters, labs, and regional schools will take place on August 26th from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30a.m. The meeting information is as follows
- Meeting Link
- Meeting ID: 268 455 629 399 006
- Passcode: c4m9kU22
Please submit questions in advance using the submission form to help us better prepare for the meeting.
IRS Mileage Rates Increase - All PSUs
Effective July 1, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has established new mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. The business standard rate for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) increased from 72.5 cents per mile to 76 cents per mile. Accordingly, and pursuant to G.S. 138-6(a)(1), OSBM will adjust the allowable rate of reimbursement for travel by officers and employees on official state business. They will not publish any notifications of the new rates beyond what has been posted by the IRS on their website.
In 2022, the Travel Policies and Regulations section (5.2.13) of the State Budget Manual was updated to reflect that unless otherwise specified, OSBM will adopt new IRS mileage rates each calendar year. In accordance with an agency’s policies, a state employee shall be reimbursed at a rate that does not exceed the business standard mileage rate set forth by the IRS. Agencies are advised to visit the IRS website to confirm the annual mileage reimbursement rates on or before January 1 of each year.
Agencies can find additional information regarding IRS standard mileage rates on the IRS website, OSBM’s website, or OSBM’s Budget Manual section 5, Travel Policies. If you have specific questions regarding these changes, please contact your OSBM Budget Execution Analyst.
Prior Year Refunds Update - All PSUs
The next processing date for prior year refunds will be noon on Monday, August 31st. Any entries not made by that time will not be processed until September. We are working on processing amounts for FY2025-26 refunds due to DPI, but those are not yet posted.
As a reminder, effective in mid-April the process for returning prior year State funds for overspent PRCs, overspent months used, overspent salaries, and penalties has moved to the Cash App. In order to facilitate a clean transition into the new process, they are no longer available on the Refunds and Repayments Droplet form and SBS will no longer accept manual checks for these refund types. PSUs should continue to use the form and manual checks to return TD-19, IDEA Maintenance of Effort, Questioned Costs, Sales Tax funds, and other state refunds.
LEAs can view their prior year overspent State funds and penalties using the "Prior Year Refund" menu in the Cash App. Please contact CashMgt@dpi.nc.gov if you have any questions.
Deadline Reminders
ALL PSUs
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DUE DATE
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TOPIC
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NEWSLETTER
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08/31/2026
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Prior Year Refunds - August Processing
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07/30/2026
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08/31/2026
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CCIP Formula Application - Full Approval
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05/14/2026
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09/15/2026
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2025-2026 EC Transfer Funding
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08/13/2026
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Attention: NC Remote Charter Academy Operators
NC Association for Public Charter Schools, under NC GROW, is currently conducting research on remote academies within North Carolina's charter school sector, and as we expand this work, we want to make sure we are learning directly from the people doing this work every day, not just reviewing it from the outside.
We would truly appreciate the chance to meet with you to hear about your experience operating a remote academy. Specifically, we would like to understand what has worked well, what challenges you have run into, and what kind of support, if any, would be most beneficial to you and other remote academy operators.
We are scheduling discussion sessions between August 24th and September 3rd. Please use the link to find a time that works for you.
Free Course from NC Department of Insurance
The North Carolina Department of Insurance is excited to introduce Protecting Yourself and Others: Teen Driving, a new, free educational resource designed for high school classrooms and driver education programs. This interactive program helps young drivers build a better understanding of automobile insurance, including how it works, why it matters, what affects insurance costs, and common insurance terminology. The program also supports financial literacy standards, helping students connect insurance concepts to real-world financial decisions they will face as new drivers. Educators can request an in-person presentation, virtual presentation, or classroom materials to facilitate the lesson themselves.
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Legislative Change for Driver's Ed
After October 1, 2026
SL2026-46 eliminates driving eligibility certificate requirements for the issuance of learner’s permits and provisional driver's licenses.
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After Oct. 1st, 2026, teen drivers will no longer be required to show an eligibility certification to apply for a license.
Grant Opportunity: Transform Your School’s Air Quality with Mini-Grants!
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Who: American Lung Association
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What: The American Lung Association’s three-level mini-grant program assists K–12 public, charter, and some tribal schools to assess, develop, and implement plans to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy management. Schools are eligible for up to $9,500, and districts can receive up to $190,000!
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Where: To learn more and sign up for the Clean Air School Challenge, visit
Take Your Co-Teaching Partnership Statewide!
Applications are open for the 2026–27 Multilingual Learner Teacher Network (MLTN)!
Great co-teaching brings together the expertise of ML and content teachers to create stronger learning opportunities for multilingual learners. The NCDPI ML/Title III Team invites current ML–content co-teaching pairs to apply together for this statewide community of practice.
Approximately 10 selected pairs will study evidence-based guidance, strengthen their collaborative teaching practices, and develop classroom-ready resources to share with educators across North Carolina. Individual applicants are also welcome and may be matched with compatible participants.
From November 2026 through June 2027, members will attend three MLTN meetings and the Summer Conference and devote approximately one hour per week to required readings, partner collaboration, and resource development. Selected participants will receive sponsorship for approved costs associated with the required in-person convenings.
Why Apply?
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Collaborate with educators from across North Carolina.
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Strengthen your co-teaching practices using evidence-based strategies.
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Develop classroom-ready resources to share statewide.
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Grow as a teacher leader while making a lasting impact on multilingual learner instruction.
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Receive sponsorship for approved costs related to required in-person meetings.
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Join a statewide community dedicated to improving outcomes for multilingual learners.
First meeting: One day during the week of November 16–20, 2026.
Apply by Thursday, October 15, 2026
26-27 Webinar Series
The CTE Data and Impact team is pleased to share their upcoming webinar series for 2026-2027!
Please click the link below for the flyer and the Zoom link.
CFSS Student Advisory Council
The Center for Safer Schools Student Advisory Council is accepting applications from current eighth- and 10th-grade students who want to make a difference in school safety.
Council members work alongside education leaders to share student perspectives, address school safety concerns and help create positive change in schools across North Carolina.
We encourage students who are passionate about mental health, bullying prevention, school climate or student leadership to apply and make their voice heard. We are especially seeking applicants from the Northwest, Piedmont-Triad, Northeast, Southeast and Sandhills regions.
If you have questions, send an email to cking@cfssnc.gov.
Updated Computer Science Course Lists for SY26-27
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has published updated Computer Science Middle School Elective Offering and High School Graduation Requirement course lists. The updated high school course list adds ten new course options, and the updated middle school course list adds three new middle school elective options along with four additional high school courses that can be taught in middle school. Completion of any course identified on the approved High School Courses Eligible for Middle School list will satisfy both the CS middle school course elective offering and high school graduation requirement.
Pursuant to G.S. 115C-12(9d), Local Implementation Delay Waiver Requests were available only for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026; no waivers are permitted for full implementation beginning in 2026–2027.
Link: NCDPI Computer Science Graduation Requirement
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Sign Up for NCDPI Newsletters
Did you know NCDPI produces a variety of newsletters on various topics across North Carolina K-12 education? Whether you’re looking for news on school counseling, digital teaching & learning resources, middle school science or K-12 education legislation updates, there is something for everyone.
A few examples of subscription offerings are:
- K-12 Education Legislative Update
- News Releases
- Digital Accessibility Newsletter
- Exceptional Children Information for Parents
Click here and enter your email address to see all the subscription lists and newsletters available to receive
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NOTE- To sign up for the Office of Federal Programs listserv, please contact your assigned Consolidated Program Administrator. Contacts can be found by clicking this link and selecting your region at the bottom of the page.
Other Resources from DPI and beyond
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GSNC Grant Opportunity
Great Schools North Carolina’s School Quality Cohort grant application is open! This 18-month opportunity is for leaders of existing charter schools to strengthen what's working, tackle persistent challenges, and implement meaningful, lasting improvements. The experience combines collaborative learning with individualized support, giving school leaders dedicated time and expert guidance to turn ambitious goals into measurable results.
Applications will be open August 19-September 8
Sign up for Office Hours, August 26-28, 10-11am
Selected school leaders will receive:
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Up to $150,000 in funding to support school improvement efforts.
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Personalized coaching aligned to their school's unique goals and needs.
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Access to expert partners and technical assistance.
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A community of charter school leaders learning alongside one another.
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Support to develop and implement a strategic action plan that leads to stronger student outcomes.
NCVPS Expands Computer Science Options for Spring 2027
NCVPS is expanding its Computer Science offerings with two new courses for Spring 2027.
These additions give students more opportunities to build knowledge and skills in growing areas of technology while giving schools additional options for meeting North Carolina’s Computer Science graduation requirement.
Current Computer Science Courses
- CP10 – Python Programming I Honors
- 2A02 – AP Computer Science A
- 0A02 – AP Computer Science Principles
- CS31 – SAS Base Programming Honors
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CS10 – Introduction to Computer Science - New course launched Fall 2026 for high school and middle school
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CS30 – Introduction to Data Science - New course launched Fall 2026 for high school and middle school
New for Spring 2027
NCVPS is continuing to grow our Computer Science offerings to support schools and districts across the state.I
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CA10 – Artificial Intelligence - New course launching Spring 2027 for high school and middle school
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CI30 – Cybersecurity I Honors - New course launching Spring 2027 for high school
View all courses at: ncvps.org/catalogs.
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Share excellence in education!
Post exceptional student work or exciting happenings at your NC Charter School. Then tag or mention OCS on Social Media for others to see!
Remember when you share on social media to use #WeAreNCCharters or @NCCharterOffice
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Charter School Job Postings
Job postings will include the posted date and will be removed after two months. Schools may request early removal or extension. Contact Joseph.Letterio@dpi.nc.gov with a posting link.
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Ashley Logue • Director, Office of Charter Schools
Please send general inquires to ocs@dpi.nc.gov
Contact information for area specialists can be found on the Office of Charter Schools Directory.
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